Rugby Notes: Warren Gatland is no World Cup villain

The International Rugby Board has already done enough to deprive the Rugby World Cup of its best team, it must not now punish the tournament’s best coach for revealing he rejected the temptation to cheat during the most important game of his career.

The International Rugby Board has already done enough to deprive the Rugby World Cup of its best team, it must not now punish the tournament’s best coach for revealing he rejected the temptation to cheat during the most important game of his career.

Warren Gatland’s stewardship of Wales into the last four in New Zealand has been a masterful study in methodical planning and cunning strategy, he has taken that country’s traditional flair and grafted on to it his own brand of Kiwi-pragmatism. The effect has been the elevation of a nation and a sport.

However, he finds himself the subject of scrutiny from the game’s governing body for admitting he considered asking a prop to fake an injury during his team’s semi-final defeat to France last Saturday. Only considered mind, not instructed nor bullied as some have done.

With one tighthead already hurt another injury, feigned or not, would have meant the enforcement of uncontested scrums, a move that would have helped 14-man Wales.

Unfortunately for the engaging New Zealander, the IRB’s sensitivities were offended by his candour and announced they would ‘review’ his comments.

Should they find against Gatland they would only add insult to the injury administered when referee Alain Rolland was left with no option but to brandish a red card at Sam Warburton after the Welsh flanker upended Vincent Clerc.

Many have railed against Rolland’s impetuosity but in doing so have missed the point, the Irishman is far from popular among leading players but this time he was hoist on the IRB’s petard.

That was after they issued a directive in 2009 which removed any room for interpretation in incidents such as Warburton’s. Rolland was the messenger, shoot the IRB.

Especially if they decide to censure 48-year-old Gatland, whose press conferences and thoughts about the game are a beacon of light in a dark sea of media-management and PR strangulation.

He has previously been warned about his public utterances and responded by threatening to stop venturing his opinion on anything. If he ever makes good on that threat rugby will be the loser.

The IRB must not compound a situation of their making, instead Gatland should be lauded for his honesty.

We are, after all defined not by what we say but by what we do and in that respect – and many others – Gatland has shown himself to be better than many others in his profession.